Health chief's Covid warning to Hertfordshire supermarkets

Although the number of new coronavirus cases in the county continues to fall, shopping, by far and away, seems to be the most common source of exposure for new cases.

Between Christmas Eve and January 16, data shared by the county council in a media briefing on Friday showed more than 2,500 new cases in Hertfordshire were linked to shopping trips.

In December, some supermarket chains took decisive action to try and combat the spread of Covid.

Over the last few weeks, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Waitrose announced it would deny entry to shoppers who do not wear face masks unless they are medically exempt, while Sainsbury's says it will challenge those who refuse to wear one if they are not exempt.

Shoppers queue to be let into a Morrisons store. Credit: PA

But there are some concerns that not enough is being done in store to stop people catching the virus.

Speaking on Friday, Hertfordshire's public health director Jim McManus said: "A number of our supermarkets have gotten a lot better, but I was in a supermarket on Saturday and there was a person right next to me, and I said would you mind not standing so close and she said 'Ive got a mask on', to which Mr McManus replied: "It doesn’t matter I can still infect you."

He added: "Shoppers are far too complacent still, they think they’ve got a mask on and you can get right next to someone. Keep your distance is the answer.

"We are still seeing too many infections come through from supermarkets."

Jim McManus, director of public health in Hertfordshire

Council officers have spent the last few months visiting thousands of shops in Hertfordshire helping them keep their stores Covid secure - and the council has continously stressed it will take action on those who flout the rules.

Mr McManus said: "The environmental health officers are out and about visiting and we are taking action with supermarkets where we find the standards to be unacceptable.

"While some of our supermarkets have been great, our supermarket colleagues need to remember that although we can't use closure powers on supermarkets, we can use other powers on supermarkets to force them to comply, and we have issued warnings.

"We have issued warnings and we have issued closure orders on a range of premises across Hertfordshire - we won’t hesitate."

He continued: "We would rather people comply, but we have these powers. Most people, by the time they get a warning letter, they comply.

"They should be in no doubt we will use whatever powers are at our disposal."

Some tips shoppers are asked to take on board while out and about is to ensure hands are sanitised, keep a safe distance apart from others, and avoid rummaging - only touch products that you are buying.